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ATTENTION: DUE TO A SICK CHILD IN KOUN'S HOUSE, WE MUST MAKE A LAST MINUTE RESCHEDULING OF THIS EVENT TO ANOTHER DAY. NOT SURE YET WHEN, PLEASE CHECK BACK.

I HAVE INFORMED KOUN THAT SICK KIDS ARE AT THE HEART OF OUR PRACTICE AT TREELEAF, SO WE COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND AND ARE SITTING FOR HIS FAST RECOVERY.

Dear All,

It is an old tradition to have visiting Teachers come to other Sangha to offer a talk and lead Zazen. I pleased to say that, this Sunday Night (America Time) May 26th, the Rev. Koun Franz will be doing so at Treeleaf!

First, a word about logistics ...

Koun's Zazen and Talk will commence from 11am Japan time Monday morning, which is New York 10pm, Los Angeles 7pm(Sunday night). Unfortunately, because the world is round, that is London 3am and Paris 5am (early Monday morning), that may make it difficult for any of our members in Europe to join live this time, for which I apologize.

The sesshin will be 60 to 90 minutes long, and consist of 30 minutes of Zazen, a talk by Rev. Koun, and then a Q&A from those there.

I need 5 individuals, all familiar with how a Google+ Hangout works, who can firmly commit now to being with us live to join the Hangout for Koun's Talk. Please post below if you can so commit, and I will contact you. We want to fill the seats for his talk.

Now, a word about Koun Franz ...

Koun Franz is a Sōtō Zen priest born in Helena, Montana. He has spent more than half of his adult life in Japan. He was ordained in 2001, then trained at Zuioji and Shogoji monasteries. From 2006 to 2010, he served as resident priest of the Anchorage Zen Community. Two years ago, Koun and his family moved back to Japan (Kumamoto), where he studies, trains, lectures, and does Buddhist-related translation work. He is also a practitioner of sewing the Nyoho-e Kesa, as we are at Treeleaf. His always very interesting blog is ...

Koun is a great champion of preserving the Ways and Traditions of monastic Practice, and has been very active in organizing an international Ango, a three month special Retreat period, at Shogoji Temple in Japan to host non-Japanese priests and teach them the traditional ways of Japanese Soto Zen. He hosted our Mongen at Shogoji for a week or so a couple of years ago. At the same time, Koun is a dad with small kids, and believes in the Practice of Daily Life too.

Even if you cannot join us as part of the Hangout, I hope that all our Sangha members will join us with the recorded version later, or via the live netcast which will be broadcast at the above times (I will post the screen in this forum at netcast time).

We hope that Koun will be the first of many guest speakers and Zazen leaders to visit us. Already, my Dharma Brothers Brad Warner and Gustav Ericsson (who is also a Christian minister) have agreed to offer Zazen here this summer. I will try to schedule the next visit on Europe time!

Just to highlight ... for the "webcamless" people and others who will not be in the "Hangout" live, a screen for the live netcast will be posted on a thread in this forum shortly before the netcast starts.

Well, I feel bad about having to miss Zazenkai this week. But a good friend of mine and I are making a quick trip to Boston to sit in Fenway Park Friday night to see the Red Sox play the Indians. Go Tribe!

WOW, what an oportunity and what a treat you have set up for us Jundo!!!!!!!!!! Thank you ever so much .
It's very, very early but I will sure try to attend. Can't commit to the live session though. Wish I could. Very sorry about that.
Oh boy, hardly can wait!!!

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Please take all my comments with a grain of salt - I am a novice priest and anything I say is to be taken with a good dose of skepticism - Shodo Yugen

Due to a chance of plans, and a very generous heart (and despite my reminder that we are all always "beginners paying our dues"), our Jenell has decided to sit with the Zazenkai a bit later.

So Koshin ... you are now off the "waiting list" and have your seat reserved, front and center.

And Kaishin ... let's get you in there too! (I miscounted the number of available seats!! ).

That means that our folks will be Shingen, David, MattW and William, Kaishin and Koshin. Koun and I take two, and Yugen and Dosho will be there.

I have to be there to push the computer buttons and host Koun, or I would give up my seat.

I think I will ask one of the priests or pre-priests (Dosho and Yugen) to yield a seat to Arnold if he can be there. Arnold, you have a camera and know how to Hangout I believe. Can you make it as a firm commitment?

Gassho, J

PS - If anyone wants to slip the Maître d $50, I will get you a table near the window.

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Please take all my comments with a grain of salt - I am a novice priest and anything I say is to be taken with a good dose of skepticism - Shodo Yugen

Hmmm. I don't speak Spanish, but it appears that you have said something about a friend, some cheese and a pair of pants. That does not exactly sound like a happy coincidence of events, but I could be mistaken.

Jundo, very nice of you to try to create a seat for me and I see Yugen is willing give his up. However, as kind as this is, I do not want to take anyone else's seat. I will view from the link here at Treeleaf.

Very generous of you Yugen. However, I would not feel right taking your seat. After all, you are senior to me in the Sangha and itis proper that you should sit ahead of me the Zendo. I will view from the link on Treeleaf. Once again thank you but please enjoy the Zazenkai yourself and I will be sitting along with you from the cameraless link on Treeleaf.

Arnold wrote:
"I would not feel right taking your seat. After all, you are senior to me in the Sangha and itis proper that you should sit ahead of me the Zendo."

Arnold,
I appreciate your kind gesture - however, this is not a matter of seniority.... I do not recognize such a hierarchy... if anything, to be precise my position as a "senior member" places a responsibility upon me to be of service wherever I can to my brothers and sisters, a lowering of my own position so that I step back wherever possible. I would be very pleased for you to attend - it is a sign of my commitment not only to you but to my Sangha - and please recognize that an act of giving (to be complete) is accompanied by an act of gracious acceptance - it is genuinely my pleasure to give you my seat (it was never mine to begin with) and you are giving me an opportunity to practice so I am the one who must thank you....

Deep bows
Yugen

Last edited by Yugen; 05-24-2013 at 04:20 AM.

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Please take all my comments with a grain of salt - I am a novice priest and anything I say is to be taken with a good dose of skepticism - Shodo Yugen

Arnold wrote:
"I would not feel right taking your seat. After all, you are senior to me in the Sangha and itis proper that you should sit ahead of me the Zendo."

Arnold,
I appreciate your kind gesture - however, this is not a matter of seniority.... I do not recognize such a hierarchy... if anything, to be precise my position as a "senior member" places a responsibility upon me to be of service wherever I can to my brothers and sisters, a lowering of my own position so that I step back wherever possible. I would be very pleased for you to attend - it is a sign of my commitment not only to you but to my Sangha - and please recognize that an act of giving (to be complete) is accompanied by an act of gracious acceptance - it is genuinely my pleasure to give you my seat (it was never mine to begin with) and you are giving me an opportunity to practice so I am the one who must thank you....

Deep bows
Yugen

Yugen,

Your response is so humbling. When I first saw Jundo's post on Koun's visit I just thought "get in quick!", so your post just reminds of the precepts not to elevate one'self above others and to give generously.

Great, Jundo -- see you all then. And Jenell, yes there will be a link to a view-only version of the event from Jundo's initial post in this thread. So anyone can watch and sit "live" without having to be on Google+ with a camera, etc. Hope that answers your question.

"When I first saw Jundo's post on Koun's visit I just thought "get in quick!", so your post just reminds of the precepts not to elevate one'self above others and to give generously."

David,
I went through the same thought process myself - get to the head of the line so as not to miss out - time and the opportunity for reflection and practice created by the positive response of our sisters and brothers was of great help - Jennell's gracious gesture started it all and I owe her a deep bow of gratitude. I do not come by humility easily, it is important for me to have you all to practice with. I am glad you are joining us - we can support one another! I need (and indeed ask for) the gentle but firm reminders to challenge ourselves that practice together provides.

Deep bows
Yugen

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Please take all my comments with a grain of salt - I am a novice priest and anything I say is to be taken with a good dose of skepticism - Shodo Yugen

"Arnold,
I appreciate your kind gesture - however, this is not a matter of seniority.... I do not recognize such a hierarchy... if anything, to be precise my position as a "senior member" places a responsibility upon me to be of service wherever I can to my brothers and sisters, a lowering of my own position so that I step back wherever possible. I would be very pleased for you to attend - it is a sign of my commitment not only to you but to my Sangha - and please recognize that an act of giving (to be complete) is accompanied by an act of gracious acceptance - it is genuinely my pleasure to give you my seat (it was never mine to begin with) and you are giving me an opportunity to practice so I am the one who must thank you....

Deep bows
Yugen

Yugen, I graciously accept. Your generosity is humbling and I thank you, not only for the seat, but also, for this lesson.

I asked Yugen and you should have the seat. I just want to make sure that you can be there, have a camera, and are set up on Hangouts.

There is no senior discount either.

Gassho, J

Jundo, I will be there live and I am set up for google+. Very kind of both you and Yugen, to offer me this seat, it makes me think a bit of the old Mike Myer's SNL "Wayne's World skit: "I am not worthy, I am not worthy...".